FAQ

What's your nationality?
I'm Portuguese.

Where were you born and do you still live there?
I was born in Lisbon and then my parents moved to a smaller town. When I went to college, I moved back to Lisbon.

When did you love for fashion start?
When I was in 4th or 5th grade, I started buying my own magazines and found Vogue. That's when I started "obsessing" about clothes, beauty care, etc. It never stopped and I'm glad it didn't.

Do you want to work in fashion?
I'd love to have the opportunity to write about fashion and lifestyle for a living. But if I don't end up doing it, I'll definitely keep writing about it in my blog.

How big of a role does fashion play in your life?
I'd say the role is quite grand. It was fashion that made me want to become a journalist/writer. However, I also appreciate comfort so, more often than not, I won't wear a beautiful outfit if I don't feel well in it.

Books or TV?
Definitely books. I absolutely love reading.

But do you watch TV?
Sure, but very seldom since we can now watch practically anything on our laptops. I keep track of a lot of TV shows that interest me.

What are your favourites?
Sex And The City is the classic, obviously. I do regular marathons of SATC series+movies. A few still-running shows I watch are Law and Order, The Good Wife, CSI, Gossip Girl and The Middle. It's mainly police shows, comedy and romance.

How about magazines? What are your need-to-buy?
Britain's GLAMOUR is my all-time favourite! After that, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire UK. If I could, I'd buy a hundred mags each month.

No Portuguese magazines?
Unfortunately, lately, I've been quite let down by our women's publications. Especially because I have higher standards to compare them to since I started reading international editions. I do love our Time Out. (Even if London's edition is still better on all levels.)

You're in your last year of college. What are you planning for the future?
Yes, as you said, it's my last year of college (finally!). Next month I'm spending a week in London, working for a magazine. It's a work placement, for experience. I can't wait for it! Next Easter, I have lined up another two weeks of work experience, in London too. My plan is to gain as much from everyone and everything around me and when I finish college, I intend to move to London. It's my favourite city in the world!

Do you already know what you're going to do in London?
In terms of work? I'd like to get more experience and knowledge in the field [of publishing] and later I'll be applying to a post-graduate degree in London College of Fashion and London College of Communication. This all depends on how things turn out, really. I have no hurry to know everything about my future at once and I want to learn so much more before I "settle" for an area of expertise.

You're also really into photography, aren't you?
Yes! I find photography one of the most inspirational things in the world. I'm inspired looking at other people's work, I'm inspired trying to create my own work. My favourite kinds of photography are fashion, food and nature.

What camera do you use?
I mostly use my Nikon D5000. But I really want to get a Diana F and a Lomo...

You've always wanted a polaroid...
Yes, I have. I'm just worried about being able to find paper for it and the digital one(s) aren't as interesting.

[More Q+A soon...]